The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-11-24
ByGB INTENSE.


AS consequence of the late struggle
over the drug storepermits in this city
d great deal of argument has been in
dulged in by persons who heretofore
have had but little to say on the sub
ject, and, who have been classed as
staunch prohibitionists, because they
were strongly inclined to look at the
better side of the argument and were,
as a general rule teetotalers by prac-
tice as well as by precept.
These conversations have developed
the fact-if great unanimity of opinion
constitutes fact-that the war waged
against the Murray law by those sup
posed to have the interest of temper
ance most at heart, has done much to
ALLEVIATE from them the support and
and sympathy of a very large class Of
thinking people.
II has developed and brought into
prominence the additional fact that
many, if not all, the leaders of the late
movement are not so much temperance
people as they are fanatics, who
cry for the entire abolition of alcohol
in all its forms and for all purposes.
This cry many Kansans have, to GER
tain extent, become used to, and have
heretofore passed by without such
thought as the weight of the subject
was most assuredly entitled to.
One of the effects of the late agita-
tion has been to arouse Thought on
this point.
And this thought has resuIted-if
public sentiment in Emporia is any
criterion-in establishing the theory
that alcohol can not be entirely done
away with; that we must have it for
mechanical and scientific purposes.
1t has also established the fact in the
minds of the people that when doctor
prescribes it as medicine for patient
said patient shall have it, even if every
old drunken topper in the state drinks
himself to death as q consequence.
The real theory of these enthusiasts,
shown by the late protest, is: mo whis-
key for any purpose. Weprefer to save
the worthless lives of a few drunken
loafers, who can not or will not con.
troll their appetites, even if we do i'm.
peril the lives of every man, woman
and child in the state"
Another thought which has received
no little development in Emporia dur
ing the last fey days, is this: t''It
whisky must be sold for mechanical
medical, scientific and other purposes
why not let the state, county and city
get some of the benefits thereof, as vel
as Kansas City and other places. 20
In other words, why not let the
general public have some of the benefits
of the trade, instead of making it 1
monopoly for the druggists only, Will,
Missouri and other states become en-
riched at our expense.
Or, to make it still palmer, W.
believe that the late agitation has de
veloped a feeling in Emporia that {
high license law, with proper re
strictions, would be far better thar
any so-called prohibition law ever en-
acted.
These thoughts are the outgrowtf
of conversations had on the streets
with many of our most prominent
citizens, who, like the writer, arr
prohibitionists-nOt in theory alone
but practically-and who believe il
temperance in all things, even in pro-
hibition.
But, while giving Our readers the re-
suits of conversations and ideas devel
oped and promulgated as a consequence
of the thoughts stirred into action by
the struggle in which the druggists OF
the one hand We're trying to live up L
the requirements Df the law, and the
trainers of the law on the other hand
were trying to limit its qualifications
for the beniit of few-we do not wisI
to be understood as opposed to the law
On the contrary, we are thoroughly il
favor of the law-until better one car
be made